Troopers force truckers to climb on top of trailers during snow removal enforcement blitz
New Hampshire State Police conducted a snow removal detail on a major interstate during which they required truckers to climb on top of their vehicles to shovel.
Following a weekend winter storm, troopers with the New Hampshire State Police conducted a vehicle snow removal detail on the morning of Monday, March 4, in Windham, according to WMUR.
In photos and video captured during the enforcement detail and shared on social media, you can see multiple truck drivers standing on top of their trailers shoveling snow as troopers look on.
NH State Police are pulling truckers off the highway and making them clear the snow off their roofs and trailers. #wmur @WMUR9 pic.twitter.com/pZDpnNZNY4
— Ray Brewer (@RayBrewerWMUR) March 4, 2019
The law goes for all! #JessicasLaw #clearthesnowbeforeyougo #NHSP #TroopB pic.twitter.com/H77qyTmUwo
— NHSP (@NH_StatePolice) March 4, 2019
Troopers say that they were out to enforce “Jessica’s Law”, which legally requires commercial and passenger vehicle drivers to remove all snow and ice from their vehicles before they begin traveling. Jessica’s Law has been on the books since 2002 and was named for Jessica Smith, who died after ice that fell off of a moving semi truck struck a box truck, causing the box truck to crash into her car.
Remove all snow and ice from your vehicle before hitting the roadways! ❄️ #NHSP is enforcing #JessicasLaw. #TroopB #ClearSnowBeforeYouGo pic.twitter.com/86Yf5lHjD1
— NHSP (@NH_StatePolice) March 4, 2019
Fines for violating Jessica’s Law begin at $250 for a first time offense but can go up to $1000 for subsequent offenses.
Snow and ice removal has been a controversial topic in the trucking community for years. Most drivers will admit that failure to remove snow and ice could pose a safety risk, but they also point out that it is unsafe and sometimes not possible to get on top of the trailer to remove it. Some companies and locations offer “snow blades” to help safely remove snow from the top of the trailer, but these aren’t always available for many truck drivers.